Prayers of Adoration & Confession

Watch or 9:21

Holy One, we thank you and praise you for the rainbow covenant of your love.
We rejoice in the promise of your faithfulness, ‘I am with you’.
Thank you for your grace accepting us as we are,
all your children through all generations, a multitude like the stars.
We praise your wisdom, O God, in recognizing the frailty of our humanity,
giving us guidance in stone and your Spirit in our hearts.
Thank you for the commandments which impel us to stop
and reflect on your Holiness alone, to respect others,
to take up our responsibilities and do justice.

But law on stone is not enough.
We praise you for the ultimate step in the covenant of love,
the gift of Jesus Christ your Son, by whom you write your law on our hearts.
Thank you for calling us beyond the external signs of faith,
obedience to rules, the sacrifice of animals and offering of money,
to the love made known to us in Jesus.

We confess though, the forgetting of the Law of Love,
not following the lead of Jesus,
or stopping as we might to praise and worship you authentically.
Forgive us our lack of love, of authenticity,
of righteous outrage at injustice in us and our world.
Lead us beyond selfish priorities to be love
and to live the essence of your law.
O God, we confess and ask your forgiveness.
Through Jesus name. Amen

Jesus gave so much that we might live.
Receive, again and again, his word of grace:
Our sin is forgiven.
Thanks be to God.

Jenne Perlstein, offered for worship by Saide Cameron, 7/3/21, Lent 3B

Prayers of the people

Watch or 51:56 

God of the waves that wash upon the rocks of suburban beaches

We pray for the world: may the world feel safe again.
May the world wake up, find inspiration, remember justice, remember faith.
May we all be cleansed from secret faults.

In your mercy, hear our prayers: we breathe, we watch, expectantly.
May tables be turned, may promises be made
In your mercy, hear our prayers: we breathe, we watch, expectantly.
May tables be turned, may promises be made

We pray for the church: may church communities find inspiration, rebirth.
May they listen, and know how to respond.
May they know what to say, and speak their truth.
We pray for the UCA Moderator-Elect, David Fotheringham,
and the success of new Synod proposals
on climate justice, family violence, gambling reform, online safety.

In your mercy, hear our prayers: we breathe, we watch, expectantly.
May tables be turned, may promises be made
In your mercy, hear our prayers: we breathe, we watch, expectantly.
May tables be turned, may promises be made

We pray for those in need.
May those exhausted by responsibilities, find help, and, eventually, peace.
May they find their rock and their redeemer.
We pray for medevac refugees: may they find both spiritual hope and practical support.
We pray for those with mental health issues, and their carers: may they find new hope.
We pray for those in aged care and their carers: may they feel our care.

In your mercy, hear our prayers: we breathe, we watch, expectantly.
May tables be turned, may promises be made
In your mercy, hear our prayers: we breathe, we watch, expectantly.
May tables be turned, may promises be made

In the name of Christ: of Autumn leaves, yet, rising
Praise
Amen

Jim Kilpatrick, offered for worship 7/3/21, Lent 3B